The Hidden Dangers of Baby Formulas: What Parents Need to Know

The first year of life is one of the most crucial periods in an infant’s development. It’s also a sensitive time for a baby’s immune system, making it even more essential to provide your child with only the safest foods and drinks.

Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of the dangers of using store-bought formula as a nutritional substitute for breast milk or natural food sources. This article will cover what parents need to know about the risks of baby formula.

Common Ingredients in Baby Formulas

Most baby formulas are made from cow’s milk, but some brands contain soy, rice, or a combination of these ingredients. Codex Alimentarius sets the code for including 30 nutrients in infant formulas.

Some formulas also have synthetic vitamins and minerals added to them. These synthetic versions can be more difficult for your baby to digest than the natural ones found in breast milk or formula made from cows’ milk.

Other common additives include artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. Per an article from Medicalnewstoday, Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar. These chemicals are considered safe by the FDA when consumed by adults in small amounts over time. However, researchers believe there may be long-term effects on children whose bodies aren’t fully developed yet, especially if they consume them regularly.

Health Risks and Side Effects

What are the health risks of soy, cow milk, or other ingredients in baby formula? As it turns out, there are many side effects associated with these ingredients. For instance, soy milk consists of 20% higher quantities of calcium and phosphorus than cow’s milk. But some groups of carbs in soy can cause issues.

Likewise, high fructose corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn modified to withstand high doses of pesticides and herbicides. This means that when you consume high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), you also consume those chemicals, even if you don’t realize it.

In addition to this hidden danger, HFCS can cause weight gain because it contains more calories than regular sugar. This can lead to obesity later on in life if left unchecked or unmonitored by parents unaware of how dangerous these ingredients are for their children’s health and well-being.

Digestive Issues Caused by Baby Formulas

When you’re a new parent, it can be hard to know what to do. You want your baby to be happy and healthy, but if you’re unsure which foods and drinks are best for them, how do you know which ones aren’t?

Baby formula is often considered one of those things that can be safely given to infants without any problem. In many cases, this is true, but there are some hidden dangers in the ingredients manufacturers use that parents should be aware of before choosing an infant formula brand.

Long-term Health Effects Caused by Baby Formulas

The long-term health effects of baby formulas are not as well studied and understood as they are for breast milk. However, some evidence shows they can cause Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).

It is a fatal gastrointestinal disease affecting premature babies. According to TorHoerman Law, it leads to intestinal inflammation. This inflammation causes healthy cells to die, allowing harmful bacteria to enter the baby’s intestine.

Treating NEC can cost up to $300,000, which is costly. Since baby formula manufacturers failed to warn the parents of these potential health risks, they are filing lawsuits against the biggest market holders, like Enfamil and Similac.

The number of Enfamil and Similac lawsuits is increasing by everyday. If you gave your infant baby formula, and he or she was diagnosed with NEC, you can also file the Enfamil and Similac lawsuit. All you need to do is find a good lawyer to represent you in this legal process and collect evidence like baby formula purchase receipts, medical expenses, etc.

Allergies and Sensitivities Caused by Baby Formulas

Allergies and sensitivities are both forms of immune response. An allergy is an overreaction to a substance that the body perceives as harmful, while sensitivity is simply an underreaction. In either case, if your baby has one or the other, it can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

These are one of the most common issues babies face consuming the baby formula. For instance, food allergy is a common consequence. In fact, data shows that food allergies generally affect 10% of infants.

How do you know if your child has an allergy or sensitivity? Many signs may indicate this issue:

• Your child has eczema or dry skin patches anywhere on his body. These areas are usually susceptible and prone to irritation when exposed to something they don’t like, like baby formula.
• You notice rashes around his mouth after feeding him formula. These rashes are often accompanied by itching or swelling too. If so, there’s something wrong with what he’s drinking because these reactions only happen when certain substances come into contact with skin cells.
• His nose runs constantly even though there doesn’t seem like anything wrong inside his nostrils. This could mean that something is irritating them from within; namely, allergens present within foodstuffs such as soybean oil which is commonly used as part.

Safer Alternatives to Baby Formulas

If you’re breastfeeding and need to supplement, there are safer alternatives to baby formulas. These include:

• Specially prepared human milk fortifiers contain all the nutrients of breast milk in a concentrated form. They can be given directly by dropper or mixed into bottles with water or other liquids.
• Specialized infant formulas made with cow’s milk protein, soy protein isolate, and whey protein concentrate, all found in breast milk. Plus, it also has additional ingredients like:
  • Vitamins A, C, and E
  • Calcium carbonate
  • Potassium chloride
  • l-carnitine hydrochloride
  • Taurine
  • Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Importance of Breastfeeding

The most natural way to feed your baby is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the only source of nutrition for newborns and infants, providing all the vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates they need in their first six months of life.

Breastfeeding also gives babies antibodies that help protect them against infection while they’re still too young to receive vaccines. It’s also convenient. You can do it anywhere, at home or on the go, without carrying bottles or formula cans around whenever you leave the house.

How to Ensure Enough Breastmilk Supply for Your Infant

The first six months of your baby’s life are critical for establishing strong breastfeeding habits. A mother’s milk supply is at its highest at this point and will decrease over time as her body adjusts to the demands of lactation.

Suppose you want to ensure enough breastmilk for your infant. In that case, it’s essential to maintain or increase your milk production during this period by ensuring you are feeding on demand and not restricting feeding times or length.

If your baby isn’t gaining weight properly despite frequent feedings, try pumping with a bottle between or after each session. This will allow any extra milk in the breast tissue to be released into bottles so that it can be given directly to the infant rather than being wasted through leakage onto clothes or pillows at night while sleeping upright in a chair with no pillow support.

Conclusion

If you’re worried about the quality of your baby’s formula or if you’re concerned about the health effects of these products, we encourage you to talk with your pediatrician. Plenty of safe alternatives will give your child all the necessary nutrients without any added chemicals or allergens. These include breastfeeding, homemade infant formulas made with organic ingredients like coconut milk or almond flour, and even some brands of store-bought formulas.